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Introduction to Politics, 1Ce – Chapter 11

Instructions: For each question, click on the radio button beside your answer. When you have completed the entire quiz, click the 'Submit my answers' button at the bottom of the page to receive your results.

Question 1:


a) It allocates seats in strict proportion to public preferences.
b) It invariably produces majority governments.
c) It is easy to understand.
d) It keeps to a minimum the number of “wasted” votes.

Question 2:


a) strong majority governments.
b) coalition governments.
c) two-party systems.
d) all of the above.

Question 3:


a) elected representatives have to nominate a substitute in case they die while in office.
b) all the seats are filled from party lists.
c) the candidates with the most “alternative” and unusual policies have the best chance of winning.
d) some seats are filled through a plurality vote, while others are based on proportional representation.

Question 4:


a) long-established parties are less likely to suffer truly catastrophic election defeats under proportional representation.
b) politicians prefer coalitions to majority governments.
c) voters are better informed nowadays and can understand proportional representation.
d) proportional representation makes it easier for minority parties to win representation in an assembly.

Question 5:


a) they don’t have any principles.
b) the costs of active membership outweigh the likely benefits.
c) only middle-aged, middle-class men ever get elected.
d) parties only ever do anything at election time.

Question 6:


a) the media wanted to simplify political coverage by grouping politicians under different labels.
b) congressmen lacked the moral courage to fight elections as independents.
c) it proved too time-consuming to have to build coalitions from scratch in order to support or oppose every piece of legislation.
d) socialist members of the working class established a party of their own to fight the power of the bourgeoisie.

Question 7:


a) Organizations that seek to establish one-party states
b) Organizations that have no constructive policies and just try to catch out their opponents when they make mistakes
c) Organizations that try to maximize support by offering policies which avoid ideological controversy and appeal to the “median voter”
d) All of the above

Question 8:


a) the electoral system.
b) economic cleavages in society.
c) the constitution.
d) all of the above.

Question 9:


a) The party leaders deserve to live in guaranteed comfort.
b) It will ensure the survival of long-established parties.
c) It should reduce the dependence of parties on rich donuts with vested interests.
d) It should reduce the dependence of parties on rich donors with vested interests.

Question 10:


a) increase their rank and file membership.
b) prefer ideological purity to office-holding.
c) choose more mature, experienced leaders regardless of their media images.
d) become more “professionalised” and “candidate-centred.”